Washington, DC, 3 November 2023 – The latest data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) underscores a noteworthy decline in teen vaping. The CDC’s National Youth Tobacco Survey 2023 reveals that current 30-day e-cigarette use among high school students has dropped from 14.1% in 2022 to 10.0% in 2023. Furthermore, smoking rates among middle and high school students remain considerably low, recorded at just 1.6%.

Deze substantiële afname geeft de noodzaak aan van een evenwichtige aanpak in de voortdurende discussies over vapen. Hoewel het essentieel blijft om jeugdvapen te voorkomen, benadrukken deze gegevens de noodzaak om de focus te verleggen van onnodige paniekzaaierij naar praktische, op bewijs gebaseerde oplossingen.

Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA), commented on the findings:

“The data from the CDC demonstrates that the exaggerated panic about teen vaping needs to stop. We must continue our efforts to discourage youth from vaping, but it’s crucial to ensure that our strategies don’t deprive adult smokers of a potentially life-saving alternative.”

“The call now is for policymakers to develop strategies rooted in research and facts. Instead of succumbing to a moral panic, it’s necessary to address the dual challenge: keeping vaping products out of the hands of the youth while ensuring that adults have access to safer nicotine alternatives,” he further added.

According to the World Vapers’ Alliance, the U.S. must shift its focus towards a comprehensive harm reduction strategy, prioritizing scientific evidence and the broader public health goal. Continuing to battle against vaping may not only be counterproductive but also could overshadow its potential benefits for adult smokers. The WVA urges a more balanced approach, highlighting the need for targeted solutions to youth vaping while acknowledging the broader benefits of vaping for adult smokers.